Please consider donating!
All Funds and Matching will be disbursed next week!

Donate HERE

TravelZork/ZorkFest is matching all donations up to a total match of $ 5,000.

ZorkFest is also donating $18 per paid ZorkFest ticket for our event.

TravelZork will cover any credit card transaction fees, and all donations can be made via a secure portal (credit card*), cash, casino chips, or TITO vouchers. Money and matching will be distributed to Jewish Nevada next week. (Credit Card Donations should code as “travel.”)

This is in association with Jewish Nevada, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. EIN 88-0098500.

100% of funds raised for this emergency campaign will support the immediate relief efforts in Israel through our strategic partners including the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), United Hatzallah, Friends of the IDF (FIDF), and our partnership region, Ramat HaNegev.

On October 7, 2023, during the holiday of Shmini Atzeret, Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza, firing thousands of rockets, breaching the country’s borders, killing dozens of Israelis, and wounding hundreds more. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war to defend itself and gave the order for the IDF to commence “Operation Swords of Iron.”

The terror group has fired over 2,500 rockets toward Israel’s major population centers, breached Israel’s borders, infiltrated Israeli communities, and kidnapped civilians. The attacks have killed at least 100 Israelis, injured hundreds, and inflicted significant damage on border communities.

Jewish Nevada and Jewish Federations are responding, working with our core partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the immense levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.

Donate HERE

All sessions are in the Summit Suite except for gambling events and dinner on Saturday night!

Summit Suite – 16th Floor (any elevator) – Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

At registration, you will also receive a printed copy of the schedule, and the schedule will be on the (back) of the name badge.

Summit Suite – 16th Floor – Harrah’s
Friday, October 13, 2023
ZorkFest 2023

• 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM — Early Arrivers Coffee Reception Hosted by TravelZork, Michael Trager (optional)
• 11 AM Sharp — First Session!

All sessions are in the Summit Suite except gambling events.

DON’T FORGET!
FRIDAY NIGHT – 9:00p – 10:00p (Summit Room)
“Casino Influencers After Dark”

Join us for a casual panel discussion with podcasters, Mark and Dr. Mike from You Can Bet on That, Josh Duffy from the Crap Vegas Podcast, some of the folks from 360Vegas, and Matt Bridger, Las Vegas YouTube Vlogger for a discussion about social media influencing in the casino, gambling, and Las Vegas spaces and the experience of content creation in this booming market. Hosted by vlogger and podcast host, VegasIntrovert.

DINNER LOCATION SATURDAY NIGHT

Dinner on Saturday Night is at Harveys; Dinner Time is on the schedule
Dinner: Harveys – 12th Floor – Tallac Room (Please use: Mountain Tower Elevator – Floor 12)

Friday, October 13, 2023

8:30a – 9:30a (Summit Room)
Early Arrivers Coffee Reception
Hosted by TravelZork, Michael Trager

11:00a – 12:00p (Summit Room)
OPENING SESSION

“Saving Sinatra: an interactive examination of Frank Sinatra’s run in with the Gaming Control Board in Lake Tahoe”
Dr. David Schwartz (aka “Dr. Dave”)
Author/Ombuds
Favorite Vacation Spot: Atlantic City
Favorite Hotel: Monaco Motel (defunct)

Dr. David G. Schwartz is a historian of gambling who also studies conflict resolution. He has written several books, including AT THE SANDS and GRANDISSIMO, and is a CO-OP certified ombuds practitioner.

Could you have helped Frank Sinatra save his gaming license? Celebrity, organized crime, secrets, and rage all came together in the summer of 1963 at Lake Tahoe’s Cal Neva casino as Gaming Control Board chair Edward Olsen called the singing superstar to task for hosting reputed underworld kingpin Sam Giancana. Though the disagreement would cost Sinatra his casino license, it didn’t have to end that way. In this interactive session we’ll examine the historical dust-up before exploring the roads not taken, getting a better understanding of how we can all manage conflict more productively.

12:00p – 1:30p
Lunch Break, on your own

2:00p – 3:00p (Summit Room)
“One Step Vacation?: Best Trips available with a single credit card sign-up bonus”
Carissa Lawson
Just Plane Points, Owner
Favorite Vacation Spot: Bora Bora
Favorite Hotel: Conrad Bora Bora

Carissa is a points and miles enthusiast with an unhealthy obsession with airport lounges. She writes full-time for a variety of publications, including Upgraded Points, AwardWallet, NerdWallet and USA Today, as well as her personal site Just Plane Points.

In this session we’ll be going over some of the best trips you can take with a single credit card sign-up bonus. This means you won’t need to spend years earning points or hoarding miles — these are one-stop, simple vacations that can become real within just a few months.

3:15p – 4:30p (Summit Room)
“A Winning Approach To Casino Loyalty Programs – Tier Matching, Casino Cruises, Optimizing Comps and Status”
Justin Vacula
Hurdy Gurdy Travel, Podcast Host
Favorite Vacation Spot: Las Vegas
Favorite Hotel: Wynn Las Vegas

Justin Vacula of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast will talk about how to maximize returns from casino apps and websites through creative methods including funding with gift cards and prepaid cards to increase credit card rewards and attain casino statuses. Justin will draw on his experience with casino apps and websites and manufactured spending.

People will learn how to leverage the BetMGM credit card to earn MGM Gold and Platinum status. People will learn how to get an edge through acquiring and liquidating prepaid and gift cards through gambling websites and apps.

5:30p – 7:30p (Summit Room)
Cocktail Reception with first 45 minute Open Bar – In the Iconic Duplex Summit Suite with incredible views, Rumored as one of the VIP Suites in Tahoe used by the “Rat Pack” and other celebrities.
Assorted food will be served during the cocktail reception.
45 Minutes Open Bar 5:30PM to 6:15PM
Cash Bar 6:15PM to 8:00PM

7:00p – 8:30p (Harrah’s Casino Floor)
Group Slot Pull with Matt Bridger
On the Harrah’s Casino floor (TBD), $500 buy-in
Matt Bridger
Matt Bridger, Las Vegas Vlogger
Favorite Vacation Spot: Las Vegas
Favorite Hotel: Circa Las Vegas

Matt Bridger is from London, UK and has been a Las Vegas regular since 1998. In 2014 he became the first Vegas YouTuber to produce daily videos documenting his trips, and has since gone from strength to strength amassing 7 million channel views and 20,000 subscribers.

9:00p – 10:00p (Summit Room)
“Casino Influencers After Dark”

Join us for a casual panel discussion with podcasters, Mark and Dr. Mike from You Can Bet on That, Josh Duffy from the Crap Vegas Podcast, some of the folks from 360Vegas, and Matt Bridger, Las Vegas YouTube Vlogger for a discussion about social media influencing in the casino, gambling, and Las Vegas spaces and the experience of content creation in this booming market. Hosted by vlogger and podcast host, VegasIntrovert.

Saturday, October 14

8:00a – 9:30a (or longer if the game is “hot”) – Harrah’s Casino Floor
Coffee Dice
On the Harrah’s Casino floor (Private Craps Table), $1000 buy-in
Hosted by Mark and Dr. Mike from the You Can Bet on That Podcast and Josh Duffy from the Crap Vegas Podcast

Coffee Dice is early morning gambling on a favorite table game for people who like “action”, Craps. Join seasoned Craps players and podcasts hosts, Mark, Dr. Mike, and Josh for what will definitely be a rousing good time!

Mark & Dr. Mike
You Can Bet on That, Podcast Hosts
Favorite Vacation Spot: Las Vegas
Favorite Hotel: Planet Hollywood

Mark & Dr. Mike have been hosting their recreational-gambling podcast for over 10 years. Casino gaming has been a huge part of their entire adult lives.

Josh Duffy
Crap Vegas Podcast, Podcast Host
Favorite Vacation Spot: Las Vegas
Favorite Hotel: Wynn Las Vegas

Josh, also known as VegasDuffy on social media, is a frequent Vegas visitor, making around seven Vegas trips per year, and has stayed at over 30 different properties in the Las Vegas area—everywhere from Circus Circus Manor Motor Lodge to Wynn Las Vegas. Josh is also a recreational gambling–especially craps–enthusiast. Josh is a co-host of the Crap Vegas podcast, where he and his co-host, Chris, discuss their Vegas adventures, including rooms, food, gaming, and entertainment. Josh strives to provide Vegas and gambling content that is grounded in the philosophy that Vegas and gambling should be fun for everyone.

There’s nothing more fun than a great craps session. And, although we can’t guarantee a winning session of CoffeeDice with Josh, Josh will do his best to make sure everyone has a good time—he’ll even show off his “bankroll killer” strategy. Josh and Chris always talk about how they play at the tables, and here’s your chance to meet Josh and shoot some dice with him.

11:00a – 12:00p (Summit Room)
“Transform Your Travel, an interactive Q&A and Panel – Enhance your entire view of travel!” with an Introduction by Gary Leff.
Gilbert Ott
God Save The Points

Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world’s leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly featured on Good Morning America, BBC, The Sunday Times, Travel & Leisure, CNN and other leading news outlets. Obsessed with deals, destinations and luxury travel – Ott is constantly in search of an edge, and shares every travel trick here on GodSaveThePoints.com. Catch him in airports around the world, if you can.

12:00p – 1:00p
Lunch Break, on your own

1:30p – 3:00p (Summit Room)
Classic Mixology Class with 360Vegas Keren and 360Vegas Tony

Join Keren and Tony from the 360Vegas Podcast as they bring their signature mixology experience to ZorkFest! Keren and Tony will take all attendees on a step-by-step educational journey learning how ot make classic drinks and classics with a twist. Attendees will learn the classic Bee’s Knees and a modern twist on both the Old Fashioned and Vesper cocktails. Pre-registration during ticketing is REQUIRED.

Bee’s Knees – classic
Vesper – Modern Twist
0.5 oz Lillet Blanc

3:45p – 4:45p (Summit Room)
“Where we have been and where we are going with Travel Loyalty. The most important things you should be focusing on and concerned with looking forward into the next five years.”
Interview and Q&A
Gary Leff
Gary Leff – Thought Leader In Travel
“Air Genius” and “An Airline Industry Brainiac”

Frequent Travel Expert Gary Leff is Chief Financial Officer for a university research center.

In addition to blogging about his miles and points obsession, he co-founded InsideFlyer.com, a place for frequent flyers to meet and learn using the latest technology.

He’s been called an “Air Genius” and “an airline industry brainiac, who you might think of as the Nate Silver of his domain.” He has also been called “sagacious” by legendary business travel writer Joe Brancatelli and “the godfather of the [frequent flyer] hobby” in Rolling Stone. Ron Lieber in the New York Times describes him as “a travel industry blogger with a specialty in spanking companies that devalue their loyalty programs” and says that his “trenchant blogging about the airline industry gives some executives fits.” Yahoo! Travel declared, “This guy knows points.”

Gary serves as Chair of the Nominations Committee and emcee for the Freddie Awards and was named one of the world’s top travel specialists by Conde Nast for his award booking service, BookYourAward.com (2010-Present).

5:00p – 6:00p (Summit Room)
“Why you should care about hotel loyalty programs” – Which Works Best for Me?: Comparing Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt”
Ben Komenkul
Ben’s Big Deal, Hotel Strategist
Favorite Vacation Spot: Phuket
Favorite Hotel: Keemala

Ben’s Big Deal is a veteran business and family traveler for 15 years helping new people in this hobby understand the value of points for hotels.

We will compare two popular hotel loyalty programs, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. In this session, learn how to book the best 4 and 5 star hotels for your dream vacation. Each Hotel Loyalty program has its perks. We will discover what is the best thing about each program: one is the business travel staple program while the other is an award traveler’s secret weapon. Who will reign supreme when we compare the world’s largest hotel program vs the upscale family travel favorite?

7:00p – 8:30p (Tallac Room at Harveys)
Harveys – 12th Floor – Tallac Room
(Please use: Mountain Tower Elevator – Floor 12)
VIP Closing Dinner (Tallac Room at Harveys)
Cash Bar

9:00p – Late
Social Time! Enjoy the most important aspect of ZorkFest, networking with new and old friends.
Also, Group Gambling and Jackpots on the Harrah’s Casino Floor!

Sunday, October 15
FTU (Frequent Traveler University) @ZorkFest Bonus Sessions 

REGISTRATION OPEN (Summit Room)
7:00a – 12:00p

(Early Riser Bonus)
7:15a – 8:00a (Summit Room)
“Southwest Airlines – Everything you need to know, plus credit card strategies” – Speaker Carissa Rawson

8:30a – 9:30a (Summit Room)
“THE COMP HUSTLE” – by Michael Trager

10:00a – 10:45a (Summit Room)
“How to ALWAYS get the best price on travel, plus how to maximize family award travel. Will include an exploration of transferrable points currencies and how you can get better flexibility by expanding one’s portfolio of credit cards.” – Gilbert Ott

11:00a – 12:00p (Summit Room)
“Deep Dive – MGM Rewards Status, Cutting edge ways to optimize on casino apps, sports betting apps, – plus: Earning MGM Gold or Platinum Status. – Bonus: Caesars Rewards Tier Multipliers and Daily Multiplier Bonus discussion.” – Justin Vacula

12:00p – 12:45p
Lunch Break, on your own

1:00p – 2:30p (Summit Room)
“Deep Dive – American Airlines AAdvantage, Loyalty Points, and OneWorld Alliance Best Kept Secrets”
And any leftover questions about Hotel Loyalty and Hyatt Loyalty (Hyatt Globalist) from the earlier session by Ben. –
“Why you should care about hotel loyalty programs.”
Plus, insight into the BBD Master Class Programs. – Speaker Ben Komenkul 

2:45p – 3:15p (Summit Room)
MyVegas Games and Strategies, gambling talk including video poker, poker, and comps + optimization advice. – Justin Vacula